One night, as I walked downstairs to get some water, I heard her voice through the slightly open door of the guest chamber.
"Alaric," she cooed, "I heard that Ancestral Moonfang Token from your bloodline works really well. The pup's been keeping me up at night… could I borrow it for a while?"
The token wasn't just a piece of jewelry. It was a Blackthorn heirloom, forged under a blood moon and blessed by the Moon Goddess herself. A symbol that whoever wore it was the rightful Luna of Blackthorn Den. Alaric had given it to me on the night of our mating ceremony, clasped it around my neck himself. He said it would be mine forever, because there would never be another Luna of Blackthorn.
His voice pulled me out of the memory.
Through the gap in the door, I saw him press a gentle kiss to her cheek and smile. "Of course. I'll ask her for it. You can wear it as long as you want, at least until the pup is born."
A sharp pain stabbed through my chest.
I couldn't even remember his exact promise anymore, but it didn't matter. Because clearly, neither could he.